Neil Lennon makes promising comments about Celtic youngsters emerging from Lennoxtown

By John McGinley

February 19, 2021

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has stated some youngsters at Lennoxtown on the verge of following Stephen Welsh into the first-team.

Welsh has been given big opportunities at the club this season and recently, before injury, had cemented a place in Lennon’s starting eleven.

It’s given thought to other prospects currently at Celtic and whether they can make a similar impact in the manager’s team before the end of the season.

Lennon didn’t name who he has been impressed by but did confirm that a couple of the youngsters training with the first-team are progressing very well.

Speaking in his press conference [YouTube], the manager said: “Yeah, we’ve got a couple of good young players underneath here training with us currently. They are coming along very nicely, indeed. We are really pleased with their progress so far.

Lennon was then asked whether these talents may get some game time before the end of the season.

He replied: “It depends on the situation, whether it’s too soon for them or not. We’ll have to gauge that over a period of time. We’re just very pleased with the progress they’re making.

“We don’t want to build them up too much or rush them too much and get them overhyped too early. But we’re very pleased with a couple of the younger ones for sure.”

Neil Lennon must turn to Celtic youngsters soon

I get the manager’s thinking in not exposing young players to the current calamity that is this season. However, for most fans, the reality is this season is already over.

No youngster coming into the team will do more damage to our Scottish Premiership challenge than what’s already been done.

There will be understanding and support for any new players taking to the pitch.

Adam Montgomery and Luca Connell during a Celtic training session / (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)

Celtic fans are actually craving a bit of hope for the future. Turning to one or two more youngsters instead of players who won’t be here next season would transform the season’s closing stages from a dull afterthought into genuine building blocks for a new Celtic.

If they are truly impressing at Lennoxtown, get them in the team.

In other news, Neil Lennon has confirmed a Celtic attacker has suffered a fresh injury setback.